Toe stop



Nov. 26, 1963 G. K. WARE 3,112,120

TOE STOP Filed March 14. 1962 IN VENTOR.

46 Goraowiffl/am I United States Patent 3,112,120 TOE STU? Gordon K. Ware, Chicago, BL, assignor to The Chicago Roller Skate Company, Chicago, lit, a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 179,625 6 Qlaims. (Cl. 280-112) This invention relates generally to rink-type roller skates and more particularly to toe stops for use with such skates.

In accordance with one conventional mode of construction, the toe stop for a rink-type roller skate comprises a body of a rubber compound which has been molded about one end of a threaded stud. The roller skate structure is provided at its forward end with a formation which defines a threaded bore, and the stud of the toe stop is adapted progressively to engage this bore. A locknut or similar device is customarily used in securing the toe stop in place on the roller skate structure. This arrangement has proved to be susceptible of the locknut working loose, particularly when the toe stop incorporates a relatively large sized rubber stop body; and this problem of the stop working loose is especially acute when the stop body is fashioned with two stop faces intersecting across a diameter of the body. When the stop body is thus fashioned with a working surface which is not completely symmetrical, loosening of the connection between the toe stop and the skate structure and concomitant turning of the stop body frustrates proper use of the stop and may actually result in a safety hazard.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a toe stop arrangement which can be securely locked in a desired position relative to the skate structure to which it is attached.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved toe stop arrangement.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following descriptions.

A toe stop in accord with the invention includes an elastomeric body; a stud afiixed to the body and having an externally threaded stern portion adapted to engage the threaded bore of a roller skatestructure, the stem portion being bisected along a portion of its length by a diametral slot; a tongue receivable in the slot including a drive portion having a thickness generally greater than the transverse dimension of the slot whereby spreadably to engage the walls thereof, the tongue further having arm elements extending diametrically beyond the margins of the stem portion of the stud; and nut means defining a threaded aperture for progressively engaging the threads of the stem portion of the stud between the arm elements and the roller skate structure, aggressive engagement of the tongue with the walls of the slot expanding the threaded stem portion of the stud into wedged engagement with the walls of the threaded bore of the roller skate structure to lock the toe stop thereto.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, a single embodiment thereof, but to which the application is not to be restricted, is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a roller skate incorporating a toe stop arrangement constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the forward end of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view taken in cross-section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the section 4-4 of FIG. 3;

PEG. 5 is a view similar to the view showing of FIG.

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2 4 but illustrating the device prior to locking of the toe stop to the skate structure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stud element used in the toe stop arrangement of FIGS. 1-5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tongue element used with the stud element of FIG. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to MG. 1, a roller skate structure indicated generally by the numeral 10 will be seen to include a sole plate 12 to which there is afi'ixed a front wheel tmck assembly 14 and a rear wheel truck assembly 16. The sole plate 12 terminates at its forward end in an angularly forwardly depending formation 18; and as is best shown in FIG. 3, the formation 18 includes a recess 20 the floor of which is defined by a plate 22, plate 22 being fashioned with a central, threaded bore 24 to be employed in attaching a toe stop 26 to the roller skate structure 10.

The toe stop 26 includes an elastomeric body 28 fashioned with a pair of angularly disposed, planar braking surfaces 30 which intersect along a central ridge 32. The toe stop 26 is intended to be oriented so that one or the other of the surfaces 34 may be urged by a skater into engagement with the rink surface in arresting his speed. A stud element 34 is afiixed to the elastomeric body 2 8 for use in attaching the body to the roller skate structure; and the elastomeric body 23 is advantageously molded and vulcanized about an end portion of the stud element 34 in order to join the two parts. A plate 36 is therefore attached to one end of the stud element 34 in order to insure a firm attachment of the stud element and the elastomeric body.

The stud element 34 is provided with an externally threaded stem portion 38 well shown in FIG. 6; and in accordance With an important feature of the invention, the stem portion 38 is bisected along a portion of its length by a diametral slot 40. The threaded stem portion 38 of the stud element is adapted progressively to engage the threaded bore 24 of formation 18; and in compliance with the invention, that part of the stem portion 38 which is in contact with the bore 24 is intended to be expanded into wedged engagement with the walls of the bore in locking the toe stop 26 to the skate structure 10.

Accordingly, a tongue element 42, shown in FIG. 7, is arranged to be non-rotatably receivable in the slot 40 in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 5. The tongue element 42 includes a cylindrical drive portion 44, arm elements 46 and an interconnecting body portion 48. The drive portion 44 and the body portion 48 generally take a Width no greater than the minimum diameter of the stem portion 38 in order that the tongue element 42 will not interfere with threaded assembly of the stem portion and the plate 22 of the roller skate structure when the tongue element is assembled in the slot 40- of the stud element. In addition, the drive portion 44 is fashioned to possess a thickness of diameter generally greater than the transverse dimension of the slot 40* in order to engage the walls of the slot in a sprcadable fashion.

Returning to FIG. 6, the walls of slot 4%) which are defined by the material of stem portion 38 are seen to include portions 50 which confront each other along substantially parallel planes adjacent the root of the slot 40. In addition, the walls of the slot 40 include portions 52 which open from one end of the stud in diverging relationship. The portions 5i slidably receive the body portion 48 of tongue element 42, and the portions 52 are employed in leading the drive portion 44 of the tongue element into the slot 40.

The toe stop 26 further includes a nut member 54 which defines a central, threaded aperture 56 as is shown in FIG. 3, the internal threads of aperture 56 being 00- operatively arranged for progressive engagement with 3 the external threads of stem portion 38 of the stud element 34. Radially outwardly of the aperture 56, the nut member 54 defines a plate portion 58; and as is well shown in FIGS. 3-5, the plate portion 58 is disposed in cooperative engagement with the arm elements 46 of tongue element 4-2.

Having thus described one construction of the invention, it is important now to state how the illustrated embodiment is assembled and how it operates.

To connect the toe stop 26 to the roller skate structure 10, the tongue element 42 is first inserted in slot 46 of the stud element 34 with the end of the tongue element which carries the arm elements 46 entering the slot in advance of the drive portion 44. Thereafter, the nut member 54 is turned down onto the threaded stem portion 38 of the stud element into loose contact with the arm elements 46. Next, the threaded stem portion 38 is directed into progressive engagement with the threaded bore 24 fashioned in formation 18 of the roller skate structure; and when a desired orientation of stop body 28 has been achieved, the nut member 54 is turned down to engage the arm elements 46. There results an aggressive engagement of the drive portion 44 with the wall portions 52 of the slot 40; and this aggressive engagement causes the threaded stem portion 38 to expand radially whereby to drive the external threads of the stem portion into wedged engagement with the cooperating threads of the walls of bore 24 whereupon to lock the toe stop 26 to the roller skate structure 19.

A comparison of FIGS. 4 and illustrates this locking action. In FIG. 5, the parts are shown loosely assembled. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows the nut member 54 having been turned down toward the stop body 23 and into aggressive engagement with the arm elements 46. Furthermore, in FIG. 4, the drive portion 44 is seen to have been drawn into wedged engagement with the walls of slot 40 by the action of nut member 54.

When it is desired to turn the stop body 28, as to present a different surface 30 to the rink floor, it is only necessary to turn the nut member 54 generally toward the formation 18 and tap the arm elements 46 to loosen the tongue element 42 from its wedged engagement in the slot 40. Thereafter, the stud element can be rotated as is desired and the nut member 54 again turned down to lock the toe stop as to the roller skate structure 10.

The specific example herein shown and described should be considered as illustrative only. Various changes in structure may occur to those skilled in the art; and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A toe stop arrangement for use with a roller skate comprising: a skate structure having means defining a threaded bore; an elastomeric body; a stud atfixed to said body and having an externally threaded stem portion adapted progressively to engage said threaded bore, said stem portion being bisected along a portion of its length by a diametral slot; a tongue non-rotatably receivable in said slot, including a drive portion having a thickness generally greater than the transverse dimension of said slot whereby sprcadably to engage the walls thereof, said tongue further having arm means extending beyond the margins of said stem portion; and nut means defining a threaded aperture for progressively engaging the threads of said stem portion between said arm means and said skate structure, whereby progressive engagement of said nut means on said stem portion in a direction away from said skate structure causes said out means aggressively to engage said arm means, resultant aggressive engagement of said tongue with the walls of said slot concomitantly expanding the threaded stern portion of said stud into wedged engagement with the walls of said threaded bore to lock said toe stop to said skate structure.

2. A toe stop arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the drive portion of said tongue is of cylindrical shape.

3. A toe stop arrangement for use with a roller skate comprising: a skate structure having means defining a threaded bore; an elastomeric body; a stud afiixed to said body and having an externally threaded stem portion adapted progressively to engage said threaded bore, said stem portion being bisected along a portion of its length by a diametral slot, the walls of said slot having first portions disposed in diverging relationship and the walls of said slot further having second portions confronting each other along substantially parallel planes; a tongue nonrotatably receivable in said slot, including a drive portion having a thickness generally greater than the transverse dimension of said slot whereby sprcadably to engage the walls thereof, said tongue further having arm means extending beyond the margins of said stem portion; and nut means defining a threaded aperture for progressively engaging the threads of said stem portion between said arm means and said skate structure whereby progressive engagement of said nut means on said stem portion in a direction away from said skate structure causes said nut means aggressively to engage said arm means, resultant aggressive engagement of said tongue with the walls of said slot concomitantly expanding the threaded stem portion of stud into wedged engagement with the walls of said threaded bore to lock said too stop to said skate structure.

4. A toe stop arrangement for use with a roller skate comprising: a skate structure having means defining a threaded bore; an elastomeric body; a stud atlixed to said body and having an externally threaded stem portion adapted progressively to engage said threaded bore, said stem portion being bisected along a portion of its length by a diametral slot, the walls of said slot having first portions disposed in diverging relationship opening from an end of said stud and the walls of said slot further having second portions confronting each other along substantially parallel planes between said first portions and said body; a tongue non-rotatably receivable in said slot, including a drive portion having a thickness generally greater than the transverse dimension of said slot whereby sprcadably to engage the wvalls thereof, said tongue further having arm elements extending diametrically beyond the margins of said stem portion; and nut means defining a threaded aperture for progressively engaging the threads of said stem portion between said arm elements and said skate structure, whereby progressive engagement of said nut means on said stem portion in a direction away from said skate structure causes said nut means aggressively to engage said arm elements, resultant aggressive engagement of said tongue with the walls of said slot concomitantly expanding the threaded stem portion of said stud into wedged engagement with the walls of said threaded bore to lock said toe stop to said skate structure.

5. A toe stop arrangement for use with a roller skate comprising: a skate structure having means defining a threaded bore; an elastomeric body; a stud affixed to said body and having an externally threaded stem portion adapted progressively to engage said threaded bore, said stem portion being bisected along a portion of its length by a diametral slot; a tongue non-rotatably receivable in said slot, including a drive portion having a width gen erally no greater than the diameter of said stud and having a thickness generally greater than the transverse dimension of said slot whereby sprcadably to engage the walls thereof, said tongue further having anm elements extending diametrically beyond the margins of said stem portion; and nut means defining a threaded aperture for progressively engaging the threads of said stem portion between said arm elements and said skate structure, whereby progressive engagement of said nut means on said stern portion in a direction away from said skate structure causes said nut means aggressively to engage said arm elements, resultant aggressive engagement of said tongue with the walls of said slot concomitantly expanding the threaded stem portion of said stud into wedged engagement with the walls of said threaded bore to lock said toe stop to said skate structure.

6. A toe stop arrangement for use with a roller skate comprising: a skate structure having means defining a threaded bore; an elastomeric body; a stud afiixed to said body and having an externally threaded stern portion adapted progressively to engage said threaded bore, said stem portion being provided along a portion of its length with a longitudinal slot opening laterally therefrom; a tongue nonrotata bly receivable in said slot, including a drive portion having a thickness generally greater than the transverse dimension of said slot whereby spreadably to engage the walls thereof, said tongue further having means defining a shoulder beyond the margin of said stern portion; and nut means defining a threaded aperture for progressively engaging the threads of said stern portion and abutting said shoulder-defining means, whereby progressive engagement of said nut means on said stem portion in a direction for aggressive engagement with said shoulder-defining means causes aggressive engagement of said drive portion with the walls Otf said slot, concomitantly expanding the threaded stern portion of said stud into wedged engagement with the walls of said threaded bore to lock said toe stop to said skate structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 642,066 Bargelt Jan. 30', 1900 1,082,891 Meredith-Jones Dec. 30, 1913 2,727,749 Fackler Dec. 20, 1955 2,941,812 Reynolds June 21, 1960 3,003,776 Ware Oct. 10, 1961 3,016,246 Ware Ian. 9, 1962 3,035,846 Asad May 22, 1962 

1. A TOE STOP ARRANGEMENT FOR USE WITH A ROLLER SKATE COMPRISING: A SKATE STRUCTURE HAVING MEANS DEFINING A THREADED BORE; AN ELASTOMERIC BODY; A STUD AFFIXED TO SAID BODY AND HAVING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED STEM PORTION ADAPTED PROGRESSIVELY TO ENGAGE SAID THREADED BORE, SAID STEM PORTION BEING BISECTED ALONG A PORTION OF ITS LENGTH BY A DIAMETRAL SLOT; A TONGUE NON-ROTATABLY RECEIVABLE IN SAID SLOT, INCLUDING A DRIVE PORTION HAVING A THICKNESS GENERALLY GREATER THAN THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSION OF SAID SLOT WHEREBY SPREADABLY TO ENGAGE THE WALLS THEREOF, SAID TONGUE FURTHER HAVING ARM MEANS EXTENDING BEYOND THE MARGINS OF SAID STEM PORTION; AND NUT MEANS DEFINING A THREADED APERTURE FOR PROGRESSIVELY ENGAGING THE THREADS OF SAID STEM PORTION BETWEEN SAID ARM MEANS 